The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-11-26
THE RABBITS PLEA.

AS farmer was LOOKING over his uelu5
of grass and vegetables growing finely in
the rich soil, he saw single rabbit ap-
proach. Out on the road he noticed q
number of young rabbits, but gave them
little thought. The old one came meek
ly and quietly to him and asked,
"Please, sir, am very hungry and al
most starving; will you let me go into
one of your fields to eat few mouth
fuls Of grass? will not harm anything
and will only take enough grass to stop
the cravings of starvation
The rabbit did seem hungry; it was
poor and thin, so the man, taking pity
on it, gave his consent.
30, thank you; thank you thousand
times" said the rabbit. "You are very
kind. On the road there is nothing to
eat; cattle have devoured the grass and
even the weeds; SO that have been
slowly dying. But my poor children out
in the road are even in worse condition
than am. I can eat the dry leaves and
stalks, but they, poor things, are trying
in vain to get strength from them. Will
it be asking too much that they be allow
ed to take few mouthfuls of grass with
me? I will see that they touch nothing
else I cannot bear to think Of my poor
children dying in my sight when your
goodness of heart permits me to enjoy
one more feast"
eyes," replied the man; "bring in your
children and let them eat all the grass
they want, only let no one touch vege-
table,"
Faithfully the rabbit promised that
nothing but grass should be eaten; and
then she called her family. The man
saw it was large one, yet said nothing,
as all began nibbling the fresh, juicy
grass. He was glad to see them enjoying
the food, and readily consented to the
request OF the mother that all might be
allowed to spend the night in the field
rather than on the road.
The next morning the rabbits were in
the lot yet and eating grass to their
hearts content. As none of the vegeta-
bles were harmed the owner said nothing
about the rabbits going away, and the
old one begged to be allowed to remain
day or two longer, until all had
strength for long journey.
Since the farmer consented, the rab-
its remained peaceably and ate all they
wished. Many scamper did the young
ones have over the lots, and many a
frolic did they enjoy by moonlight. But
neither old nor young said a word about
leaving. It was not long before the
farmer noticed that the number of rab-
it's had become larger; and every day or
two he thought the number was increas-
ed. 1t was not simply an old mother
with her family of young ones, but many
other rabbits had come into the field to
see their friends there. They did not
leave. They came to stay.
1t did not take the farmer long to see
that the little creatures were becoming
costly and troublesome visitors. The
grass was eaten closely, and the vegeta-
bles began to show that something ate
them. The farmer became indignant and
ordered the rabbits out of the field; they
went but to another; and soon the grass
and vegetables in that were destroyed or
devoured. He told the old rabbit that
she had proved false to him and had
allowed her children to eat vegetables as
well as grass.
'No, have not" was her reply. 'Not
mine, but those who came in after we did,
have destroyed the vegetables. 1 said
nothing about them, nor am / RESPONSE
BILE for what they do. have kept my
word, and not one of my children has
touched vegetable. asked to remain
until we had strength for a long Journey,
and we have not gained strength enough
yet. When we feel able my children and
self will take that long journey, but we
are not able now, have nothing to say
about the rest. They are not NINE"
"But they came because you are here. y
replied the farmer. "You are the cause
really of all this damage"
81 had nothing to do with it," answer
ed the old rabbit, as she hoped away to
nibble a: tuft Of grass.
The fields were rapidly becoming bare,
and the man saw that there would soon be
neither feed for his cattle and hocks, mol
food for his family, if the rabbits were
allowed to remain. He ordered them of
but they refused to go. They merely
went from one field to another, eating
and destroying everything in their way
His growing crops were eaten and the
ground almost bare of everything that
would support life. His cattle were hun.
CRY and growing thin. The sheep bleated
for grass and the cattle beloved for fod
der, but he had not food to give. Moth
ing that be said to the rabbits had any
effect on them. Their number had be-